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Vegetarian, South and Southeast Asian

Shahi paneer with naan

Shahi paneer is a vegetarian Indian dish made with paneer simmered in a creamy cashew, tomato and cardamom sauce, served with naan. It serves 4, takes 40 minutes, is rated easy, and costs €2.90 per person. The secret to success is a perfectly smooth sauce, achieved by blending well soaked cashews thoroughly.

Tonight we're living like maharajas with shahi paneer, a royal cashew and cardamom sauce, served with naan.

Shahi paneer with naan
Total time
40 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€2.90
Calories per person
590 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Shahi paneer gets its name from its so called royal sauce, a mild cashew cream scented with cardamom, far from the fiery curries people often picture. Paneer, the fresh Indian cheese that holds its shape when cooked, stays firm and adds a melt in your mouth texture without turning stringy. The sauce, lightly sweetened by tomatoes and cream, coats every bite without any heat.

It's a dish kids tend to love precisely because it isn't spicy, and it earns its place on a Sunday night when you want something a little special without hunting down a long list of spices. Mon Chou likes to bring it out in fall and winter menus, when a colorful, comforting dish hits the spot. Warm naan is there for scooping, and that's usually when everyone goes back for seconds.

The ingredients

4 people

Dairy

  • Paneer 250 g
  • Heavy cream 10 cl
  • Milk 10 cl
  • Butter 30 g

Pantry

  • Cashews 60 g
  • Crushed tomatoesoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Ground cardamomoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Garam masalaoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onion 1
  • Garlic 2 cloves

Bakery

  • Naan 4

Allergens Lactose, Tree nuts, Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Soak the cashews in hot water, then blend them with the milk until smooth. 10 min

    The longer you blend, the silkier the sauce will be.

  2. Melt the butter and gently cook the minced onion and garlic without browning them. 8 min

    Shahi sauce is pale and golden, don't let the onion brown.

  3. Add the tomatoes, cardamom and garam masala, let it reduce, then blend everything together. 10 min

    Crush the seeds of a cardamom pod in a mortar for extra flavor if you have one.

  4. Pour the cashew cream and heavy cream into the pan, add the cubed paneer and let it simmer gently. 6 min

    Stir over low heat, cream doesn't like a hard boil.

  5. Warm the naan and serve the shahi paneer while it's hot. 3 min

    A few toasted cashews on top make a nice finishing touch.

Our tips to get it right

  • Drain the paneer well before cubing it, excess water will water down the sauce.
  • If the sauce seems too thick after blending in the tomatoes, thin it with a little hot water rather than more cream.
  • Sear the paneer cubes for two minutes in a dry pan before adding them, they'll hold their shape better in the sauce.

The variations

  • Swap the paneer for firm tofu for a dairy free protein, the sauce stays exactly the same.
  • For a quicker version, use ready made cashew powder and skip the soaking step.
  • For younger kids, cut the cardamom in half and serve the sauce on the side so they can dip their own naan.

What to serve it with

  • Plain basmati rice
  • Cucumber raita
  • Hot chai tea

Storage

Shahi paneer keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It can be frozen, though the paneer gets slightly firmer once thawed. Reheat gently in a saucepan, stirring, and don't let the cream come to a hard boil.

Questions about this dish

Can you replace paneer with another cheese?

Paneer is hard to replace because it holds its shape when cooked, but rinsed feta can work if you want to tone down its saltiness. Firm tofu is also a solid swap if you're avoiding dairy.

Do you really need to soak the cashews?

Yes, ten minutes in hot water is enough to soften them so they blend into a smooth, grain free cream. Skip it and the sauce stays noticeably grainier.

Can you make the sauce ahead of time?

Yes, make the cashew and tomato sauce the day before and keep it in the fridge. On the day, just reheat it and add the cubed paneer.

Is this dish spicy for kids?

No, shahi paneer is one of the mildest Indian dishes, with no chili, just the warmth of cardamom and garam masala. It's often the recipe that introduces kids to Indian cooking.

How long does it take to make a shahi paneer with naan?

Count 40 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a shahi paneer with naan?

About 590 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a shahi paneer with naan cost?

About €2.90 per serving, or €11.60 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains lactose, tree nuts, gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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